Trophy Again
The Beaufort Seadogs, who thrive on greatness and who
win state championships like they had a monopoly on
them, proved that five players are better than one Satur
day night in the finals of the state Class 1-A tournament
at Durham as they scored a 62-59 win over Jay Martin
and the Boonville Black Knights.
The highly-touted Martin proved to be all that rave
notices had said he was, as he threw in 11 field goals and
14 free throws against a stout Seaclog defense. But even
this spectacular one-man show wasn’t enough to wrest the
state championship trophy from the firm grip of the Beau
fort Seadogs, featuring the balanced and lethal attack of
Hassell and Co.
For Beaufort, the tremendous victory gave the Seadogs
an unprecedented third straight state championship and
extended their winning streak to an amazing 76 consecu
tive games to make them the winningest high school bas
ketball team in North Carolina history.
Although the Seadogs led throughout most of the game,
Martin and the Black Knights made a determined effort
to overhaul the state champs in the closing minutes of the
game. With only 40 seconds remaining to be played, Mar
tin stepped to the free throw line and sank his 13th and
14th free throws to pull the Black Knights within one
point of Beaufort at 60-59.
But the Seadogs weren’t finished yet. The green-clad
warriors brought the ball down court and Pi^d Hassell
pumped in one of his patented left-handed jump shots
that hit nothing but the bottom of the net to give Beaufort
a 62-59 margin with three seconds showing on the clock.
With their third straight state championship only three
seconds away, the Seadogs went into a full-court press
that kept Boonville from even completing the third pass
inbounds before time ran out.
For Beaufort the win was a tremendous uphill struggle
as they lined up for the opening tipoff with one starter
hobbling on a badly sprained ankle and another just up
from an all-day siege of strep throat. David Jones, who
sprained his right ankle on Friday night against Red Oak
was limping noticeably when he took the floor against
the Black Knights and Ray Hassell had just gotten out of
bed minutes earlier after being treated all day for a strep
throat which struck Friday night. Ray was given anti
biotics all day Saturday to combat the infection.
But if any bug was bothering Ray Saturday night, the
Bo'onville players will tell you it must have been a basket
ball bug, as the junior play-making wizard turned in a
performance that wrought havoc to the Knight’s hopes of
pulling off the big one.
It was Ray who, time after time, took the ball away
from the Boonville cagers and drove the length of the
court for layups that kept the Seadogs out in front of their
Knight foes. Ray led all scorers for the state champs as
he hit on a variety of shots to record 25 big points.
The game opened with Boonville jumping off to a 4-0
lead before Beaufort could score from the floor. Parris
Croom, who sank four of five field goal attempts for Beau
fort in the first ten minutes of play, hit a jump shot from
the side of the court to put the first two points on the
scoreboard for the McQuaidmen. Before they could score
again though, Boonville had taken a 7-2 edge on a field
goal by Rondal Casstevens and a free throw by Martin.
The end of the first quarter found the score knotted at
14-14 but in the second stanza Ray and Pud Hassell went
to work for the Big Green to sparkplug a drive that sent
the Easterners out front by five, 35-30. Ray hit four field
goals in the period and Pud connected on three field goals
and a free throw.
In the third quarter, the Seadogs opened up the largest
lead of the night by either team when a field goal by Ray
See STATE CHAMPS, Page 3
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
IN THIS ISSUE
YOUR HOME, 1961
CARTERET COUNTY NEWS-TIMES
50th YEAR, NO. 23. TWO SECTIONS TWENTY-FOUR PAGES MOREHEAD CITY AND BEAUFORT, NORTH CAROLINA TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 1961
PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND r RIDAYS
Proposed Bills Will Lift
Double Tax from Fishermen
-i
County Board
Considers Tax
Valuations
County commissioners, sitting as
a board of equalization yesterday
heard petitioners in the morning
and considered written requests
for reconsideration of tax valua
tions in the afternoon.
Requesting lower valuations yes
terday morning were Mrs. G. C.
Cooke, Morehead City; Clyde Doug
lass, Raleigh, represented by Har
vey Hamilton Jr. and John L.
Crump; Mrs. G. J. Bell, Green
ville; Roger Williams, Gloucester;
G. E. Bell, Washington, N. C.
Sam Morgan, New Bern; Gerald
Mitchell, Morehead City; and
John L. Humphrey, Morehead
Bluffs.
Other properties considered at
the morning session were those of
Mrs. Sophie Merwin, Beaufort, and
Clifford Tilghmann, Beaufort. On
most of the requests for revalua
tion, Prentiss Garner, of the tax
supervisor’s office, was asked to
make an investigation of the prop
erty.
Before convening as a board of
equalization, the board named Mrs.
Julian Guthrie as vital statistics
registrar for Harkers Island.
The board approved a resolution
on hospital bond anticipation notes
and refinancing the net school debt
of $42,534.79 and the bonded debt
of $471,088.64 which was incurred
for purposes other than schools.
Tuesday, April 4, 10 a.m. at the
courthouse was set as the time
for public hearing on the proposal
to refinance. The Local Govern
ment commission has advised re
financing in order to float bonds to
pay for the county hospital.
Teacher Hurt
In Auto Crash
Mrs. Calvin Jones, Beaufort
school teacher, remained at Rex
hospital, Raleigh, yesterday, re
covering from injuries received in
an automobile accident about 15
miles from Raleigh Thursday. She
was en route to Durham to attend
the basketball tournament.
Mr. Jones said yesterday that he
was riding in a car behind his wife,
but did not see the accident hap
pen. He said the Buick driven by
Mrs. Jones was hit by a bus and
turned over, throwing Mrs. Jones
out of the automobile.
Mrs. Jones suffered a deep cut
on the head and knee, a broken
wrist and broken ribs. Miss Peggy
Lewis, Beaufort, who was riding
with her, was not injured. Mr.
Jones said that his wife was do
ing as well as could be expected,
but he didn’t know when she could
come home.
She is an eighth grade teacher at
Beaufort school. Her Bon, David
Ward Jones, is a member of the
Beaufort basketball team.
Educators Will Attend
NCEA Session, Asheville
Ten educators from Jhe county
will attend the annual meeting of
the North Carolina Education as
sociation at Asheville Thursday,
Friday and Saturday.
• Delegates are H. L. Joslyn, coun
ty superintendent; Lenwood Lee,
principal of Morehead City school;
Stewart Daniels, principal of Smyr
na school; Jack Johnson, principal
of Atlantic school; E. B. Comer,
principal of Newport school.
Fred Lewis and E. C. Jernigan,
county supervisors; Mrs. Dorothy
McNeal of Newport, Mrs. Hester
Mason of Newport and Mrs. Julia
Herndon of Morehead City, class
room teachers.
By D. G. BELL
Carteret Assemblyman
Those who pay a tax for register-,
ing and licensing boats used in
commercial fishing have been sub
jected to such licensing since 1953.
It is felt by Governor Sanford, the
Division of Commercial Fisheries
and many legislators, that this
group should not be subjected to
double taxation as required by the
North Carolina Motorboat Act of
1959.
Attempts were made during the
1959 session to exempt commer
cial fishermen from the tax portion
of the North Carolina Motorboat
Act. It,appeared at the time that
if such was done, it would prevent
the passage of the act and there
by prevent much-needed safety
legislation in the motorboat field.
Two bills will be introduced soon
in both the House and Senate. It
is believed that. they will correct
the injustice and at the same time
not affect the safety aspects of the
motorboat act. In fact, it is be
lieved it will make possible a
broader coverage of all p>ats from
the safety standpoint.
It is recognized that the passage
of this legislation will reduce rev
enues to the Wildlife Resources
commission. At the same time, if
desired by that commission, it will
remove from their responsibility
the inspection of some 6,000 boats.
The prime responsibility for the
See TAX CHANGE, Page 2
Grade Reads to Peter
¥• ' y'f
Gunhiide Gunnersen, who plays the
trait in Black, reads to Ben Horton, 12-year-oia
S. A. Horton, who portrays Peter Talbot.
hi Por
and Mrs.
One of the most chilling murder
dramas of modern theatre comes
to the stage Friday and Saturday
night when the Carteret Commun
ity theatre will present Portrait in
Black.
Curtain time is 8 p.m. in the
Morehead City school auditorium.
The oats tan ding cast stars Renet
Kemp, Morehead City, who plays
the part of the possessive Tanis
Talbot, widow of a wealthy ship
owner, who falls in love with Mr.
Talbot’s doctor, and Bill Lockard,
Beaufort, who portrays the doc
tor, Phillip Graham.
Miss Kemp is a 1960 graduate of
Woman’s college where she major
ed in speeeb and drama. She is
now a member of the Morehead
City high school faculty.
Mr. Lockard, who has appeared
in little theatre productions in Ari
zona, is English instructor at Beau
fort high school.
The youngest member of the cast
is a lively heart-stealer, Ben Hor
ton, 12, who has a running feud
in the play with Puffy Baker, the
youngster next door.
Rupert Marlowe, suave, sophis
ticated lawyer who’s in love with
Spring Brings Big Step-Up
in Building
Bridge Hearing
Set, March 30
Thursday, March 30, has been
set as the date for the hearing
on the proposed bridge across
Newport river at Morehead City.
Mayor George Dill, who con
sulted with Merrill Evans, head
of the highway commission,
Thursday at Raleigh, said the
hearing would be at Raleigh.
The hour has not yet been an
nounced.
The highway commission also
announced it hopes to have the
Atlantic-Ocracoke ferry running
from Atlantic to Ocracoke by
Wednesday, April 5. Gaston
Smith, Atlantic, a member of
Carteret’s board of commission
ers, said' yesterday that the ferry
is to operate from Atlantic until
the new landing at Cedar Island
is built.
Twin Sons Arrive
for the Eden C. Barefoots Jr., of
Salter Path. Mrs. Barefoot, 20,
gave birth to twin sons at Mote
head City hospital.
Though Friday was an Irish holi
day, the boys weren’t named Pat
and Mike. Gerald Lee weighed 4
pounds 10 ounces and Harold Dean
weighed 5 pounds 4 ounces. Boys
and mother are getting along fine.
Tanis, is portrayed by Guy Smith
Jr., Beaufort. Glenn Adair, Beau
fort, plays the part of Blake Ritch
ie, labor organizer who’s in love
with Winifred Talbot, Tanis’s step
daughter.
Gayle Strickland, Morehead City,
convincingly plays the part of Wini
fred.
Mr. Adair skillfully portrays a
role he was called upon to take jit
the 11th hour, when the person
originally cast had to be replaced.
Charles Grant, Morehead City,
portrays Cob, the Talbot chauf
feur, and Gunhilde Gunnersen,
Morehead City, plays the role of
Gracie, the maid. The tiffs be
tween the two lend levity to the
thriller.
Directing the play is Hortense
Boomer, Morehead City. In charge
of lighting is Lillian F. Giddcns;
sound effects, the Rev. Robert
Wood; make-up, Mrs. Bill Lockard;
prompter, Thomas Respess, and
properties, Mrs. Earl Holt. •
. The play is being sponsored by
the Esther Rebekah lodge of More
head City. Tickets are available
now from Mrs. George Snooks or
Mrs. Jack Steed, as well as other
members of the lodge.
Report on Cause of Death Received
News-Times Photo by McComb
This is the barn at Straits where the body of Mr* Agatha Ballou was found by sheriff’s deputies Mon
day morning, Feb. 13.
Coroner David Mundcn said
Friday that he had received the
pathologist’s report on Mrs.
Agatha Ballou, which says
“death is considered to have
been caused by bronchiopncu
monia” with large bruise areas
covering the trunk and limbs as
a “major contributory factor.”
The pathologist is Dr. D. H.
Lippitt, New Bern. He examined
the body soon after it was found
LegislatorCommentsonSales
Taxes Proposed by Governor
D. G. Bell, Carteret’s represen
tative in the House at Raleigh,
commented Saturday on the gov
ernor’s proposed tax program to
finance improvement in the educa
tion program.
Mr. Bell said that, generally, he
is in favor of it, pointing out that
unless everyone bears a propor
tionate share of a better education
program, those in the higher in
come brackets—who bear the bur
den when it comes to school bond
issues—will be less inclined to vote
for those bond issues.
“I’m supporting the governor’s
education program and will sup
port the tax program (3 per cent
sales tax on everything), if,” the
legislator said, “after all proposals
arc made, it seems the best pro
cedure.”
He said that a bill is expected to
be introduced this week which
would increase from 3 to 4 per cent
the sales tax on items presently
taxed. Other revenue-producing
bills have been introduced and
hearings on them are to begin this
week.
Under the present sales tax law,
many items are exempt. The gov
ernor’s recommendation, simply,
is that most of these exemptions
be removed.
He estimates that this will bring
in $83 million during the next bi
ennium. He further recommends
that the people vote, this coming
November, on whether to continue
Filing Dates Set
Friday, April 7, will be the dead
line for filing for Beaufort munici
pal offices, Ronald Earl Mason,
town clerk, reported yesterday. Fil
ing fee for commissioner is $5 and
for mayor $10.
in a bed in a barn at Straits,
where Mrs. Ballou and Edgar
Willis made their home.
Willis was taken into custody
after he tried to cut his throat
and hang himself the morning
Mrs. Ballou's body was found,
lie is now in the county jail,
awaiting grand jury action April
3 on a charge of attempted sui
cide.
* Coroner Munden said that Mrs.
a 3 per cent sales tax, across the
boards, after July 1, 1963.
Mr. Bell said, "A sales tax,
which would include items now ex
empt, such as food and drugs, is
the only tax that reaches all of
the people in Carteret county.
“The sales tax was originally
levied, in 1933, to save the public
school system. The governor’s
proposal to put the sales tax on
everything is, no doubt, very un
popular with many people.” The
legislator then cited this example:
“An average family that has an
income of $1,000 normally owns
little or no real estate and the total
tax, under the governor’s plan,
could not amount to more than
$30 for them.
“The three children cost the state
approximately $250 each, or $750
a year to educate. The difference
between what this family pays, $30
and $750, must be borne by those
more able to pay—and this is done.
“The problem in our county,”
Mr. Bell said, “is that the proposed
education program backed by gov
ernor Sanford, will do only half
the job. Within the next three or
four years, Carteret county will
have to spend $4 or $5 million on
new school construction.
“The only way the county has of
raising this money is to tax real
Tide Table
Tides at the Beaufort Bar
HIGH LOW
Tuesday, March 21
12:02 a.m. 5:42 a.m.
... 5:53 p.m.
Wednesday, March 22
12:24 a.m. 6:36 a.m.
12:52 p.m. ' 6:50 p.m.
Thursday, March 23
1:13 a.m. 7:42 a.m.
1:44 p.m. 7:48 p.m.
Ballou probably died Feb. 12,
the day before the body was
found. The sheriff's department
was asked by neighbors to make
an investigation the morning of
the 13th.
A chemical analysis made by
the FBI laboratory, Washington,
D. C\, revealed no traces of poi
son or narcotics in Mrs. Ballou’s
body. That report by the lab
was released by sheriff Hugh
Salter last week.
estate and personal property. So
the funds to pay for school facilities
must be borne by those who own
the most property.”
Referring directly to the sales
tax proposal, which is being op
posed by many throughout the
stale, Mr. Bell said, “If the people
in the lower income brackets who
are usually those with more chil
dren, are not willing to pay SOME
tax, it would appear to me very
difficult to convince those who are
bearing the biggest burden at
present, to go to the polls and vote
upon themselves higher taxes to
float school bonds.”
Stated briefly, Mr. Bell feels
that unless everybody pays a little
bit more tax, the education pro
gram may grind to a halt because
those most able to pay will balk if
more tax must be put on property
at the local levcf.
Part 2
Why It's Better to Live in Town
When people don’t want to do
something, they can make up all
sorts of reasons why they shouldn’t
do it. Many of the reasons are not
valid.
This is the situation in regard to
Beaufort’s bonded indebtedness.
According to the town clerk, Ron
ald Earl Mason, a schedule has
been set up whereby Beaufort will
have paid off all of its long-stand
ing debt by the end of 1972—and
this-can be done without expand
ing the town to take in tax-produc
ing property.
Mr. Mason says the town is keep
ing up with its debt retirement
schedule, therefore there is no
i basis for people who don’t want to
► More than a million dollar* is being poured into new
construction in the county this spring. Going up are motels,
restaurants, service stations, and business buildings, as
well as new homes.
Much of the building is centered in the Atlantic Beach
Emerald Isle area, where businessmen and homeowners
arc preparing for summer. Hur-^
ricanc damage is still evident, but
folks are fast clearing it away in
anticipation of a good tourist sea
son.
New motel units are expected to
number about 70 when all work is
finished. Rommie Willis of Salter
Path is building a 20-unit motel,
restaurant and service station near
Pine Knoll Shores on the Salter
Path road. John Powell of Rocky
Mount has added several units to
his Belaire motel, located at the
intersection of the beach road and
the old causeway road.
Ten units and an office have
been added to the Seashore motel
by Moses Brown, doubling the mo
tel’s capacity. The motel’s new
swimming pool is complete except
for painting. The Oceanana motel
is adding 20 units and a lounge.
The John A. Bakers recently
completed repairs To their home
at Sound View Isles where M. T.
Mills of Morehead City is budding
a new home.
A number of new cottages are
being erected by upstate property
owners and scores of vacationers
are making repairs or renovations
at their cottages.
Extensive work *is being done in
the recreation area of the beach,
where storm damage was heavy.
Most businessmen plan to be open
in time for the first tourists in
May.
Building is getting a big boost at
Salter Path, where a new restau
rant has been built by Edwin Guth
rie. Charlie Smith is working on a
new service station, located near
the old ball park. New homes are
being constructed by Norman Sal
ter, Stanley Smith and Romainc
Willis.
One hundred feet arc being add
ed to Thompson’s pier at Emerald
Isle and a new fishing pier is
being built several miles west of
there by W. C. McLean. The new
pier wdl be near the ferry landing.
In Morehead City, the Colonial
store is adding enough floor space
to double the store’s size, accord
ing to E. B. Thompson, manager.
Plans are to have the addition com
pleted by mid-May.
An addition to the Medical Arts
building, Arendell street, will house
the offices of a new dentist, Dr.
David Freshwater, who plans to
begin practice here this summer.
Dr. John Gainey reports that a new
laboratory has been built behind
the Medical Arts building for use
by the doctors who have offices in
the building.
Miller Harrell, realtor, plans to
construct twelve homes in Calico
Colony, Morehead City. They are
valued from $11,300 to $12,000 each.
He has also erected a new home in
the country club section valued at
$15,000.
Morehead Builders Supply Co.,
See BUILDING, Page 2
join the town saying that they
don’t want to pay off Beaufort’s
debt.
The debt will be paid whether
they become a part of the town or
not.
A town that expands doesn’t do
so to make nioney. Quite the op
posite is true. It costs a town to
expand. For example, if expan
sion goes through April 1, it is an
ticipated that another employee
will be added to the street depart
ment.
If it costs money to expand, then
why do it?
Beaufort’s census figures in 1950
and 1960 show a steady drop. A
town that is decreasing in popu
lation is not attractive to outside
Rhubarb Over
Hospital Site
Not Over Yet
By a vote of 3 to 1, the county
board of commissioners agreed
yesterday morning to hear Beau
fort and Morehcad City doctors, re
garding the hospital site, at 3:30
p.m. The hearing convened as
THE NEWS-TIMES was going to
press.
Also present were representa
tives of the Beaufort Merchants
association.
Commissioner Gaston Smith, aft
er the motion "to hear them had
passed, with commissioner Skinner
Chalk voting no, said, “We’re not
reopening the site question. We
want that understood.” Mayor W.
H. Potter was present when the
vote was taken.
Commissioner Smith and com
missioner Harrell Taylor agreed
that it was a “waste of time” to
hear the doctors or anyone but
they agreed to hear them after
Moses Howard, chairman, explain
ed that he had told Dr. John Gain
ey, head of the Morehcad City
hospital staff, that the board might
hear them yesterday.
Commissioner Chalk said he was
in favor of hearing them only if
they "allege an emergency situa
tion exists."
Mayor Potter told the board that
he understood that mayor George
Dill, Morehcad City, was to appear
before the board with a letter ask
ing that the board consider a Crab
Point site for the hospital. He said
the letter was “signed by eight or
ten doctors,” had his signature and
mayor Dill’s.
The board wanted to know what
the Beaufort Merchants association
wanted. (A delegation was wait
ing in the hall). Odell Merrill,
clerk to the board, said that they
felt if the board considered the
doctors’ request to change their
minds about a hospital site, then
the merchants’ association wanted
their site, the Gibbs farm, consid
ered, too. * '
The county board on March 9
chose property on Bogue Sound,
west of Morehcad City as the hos
pital site. „
Period of Grace Ends
Ending today is the 90-day period
of grace in which Beaufort fire
trucks were allowed to answer calls
in the fringe areas of Beaufort.
The town board on Dec. 21, as a
good-will gesture, agreed to allow
town equipment to make calls im
mediately outside of town until
March 21.
businessmen and investors. Such
persons reading Beaufort’s census
figures would be inclined to look
for a different place, one that’s
growing, “on the move.”
The census figures do not reveal,
unfortunately, that the town has
a large fringe population, a big
trade area.
Secondly, the feeling of growing
is good psychologically.
Aside from the services a town
can provide, the town government
provides a focal point for crystal*
lization of ideas, forging of new
projects and opportunity to exer
cise the full rights of citizenship.
The next two artteles will report
on services available to town citi
zens.
-